The Story of Charles Allen Smith

Charles Allen Smith Statue Dedication, McPherson Square
August 4, 1917 (Kensington)

     Charles Allen Smith was a 20 year old Seaman from Kensington. He was killed at Vera Cuz, Mexico on April 22, 1914. His statue has stood in McPherson Square since June 29, 1917. His funeral on May 13, 1914 was the grandest ever held in the city, yet today he is barely a footnote in American History. 

     Charles Allen Smith was born on January 11, 1894, the eldest child of Walter and Jennie Smith of 2535 Lawrence Street (near 4th and Huntingdon). Walter worked as a weaver. Besides Charles, Walter and Jennie had 4 other children: James (who died at age 4 months on Aug 27, 1895 from Capillary Bronchitis), Edna in 1897, Esther in 1903 and a stillborn. Walter and Jennie had a stormy marriage and Walter left Jennie and the children shortly after Esther's birth in 1903. He made no attempt to see them for 11 years. Jennie was so bitter that in the City Directory she always listed herself as Jennie widow of Walter. She made it quite clear that Walter was dead to her. She moved the family to 1925 E. Sergeant Street (near Lehigh and Kensington Aves) and took a job at a cigar factory. By 1910, they moved to 2170 E. Sergeant and by 1912 to 2168 E. Sergeant. By 1910, Jennie worked as a washerwoman. 

     Seventeen year old Charles entered the Navy on August 31, 1911 and was stationed aboard the USS New Hampshire. In October, 1913, while home on leave, Charles met Miss Elizabeth Agnes Broadbent and they were engaged to be married. They set the date for October, 1915 when Charles' enlistment would be up. 

Elizabeth Agnes Broadbent, fiance of Charles Allen Smith.

  
     In April of 1914, the Mexican civil war was raging near the oil rich town of Tampico where many American companies held interests. To protect their investments and American lives, the US sent a gunboat to patrol the area. While ashore to pick up supplies, several sailors were unlawfully taken into Mexican custody. They were released after an hour and a half along with a written apology but that wasn't good enough for Woodrow Wilson. He demanded that the Mexicans raise an American flag on Mexican soil and to fire a 21 gun salute. The Mexicans did not do so by the appointed deadline so Wilson gave the orders to capture the port of Vera Cruz, crucial to the Mexicans for weapon shipments from the German government. The USS New Hampshire was among the battleships sent to Vera Cruz and Charles Allen Smith was among the sailors and soldiers sent ashore to take the city. The landing went well but the Mexicans had snipers hidden throughout the city on April 22, 1914. Charles was pinned down behind some sandbags when he saw the Color Sergeant go down. Without an instant of hesitation, Charles leaped forward to get the flag. Before he got there he was cut down with a bullet to the lungs and another through his head. He was the second American (of 17) killed that day. The first sailor killed was also a Philadelphian, George D McKenzie Poinsett.

USS New Hampshire. Charles Allen Smith served aboard her from August 31, 1911 to April 22, 1914.

    

Charles Allen Smith's Death Certificate

     
     It was decided that Poinsett and Smith would lay together in state at Independence Hall and given the biggest funeral known to the city. Before reaching Philadelphia, they were given a huge memorial service at the Brooklyn Navy Yard where they were eulogized by President Wilson. The caskets were accompanied from NYC to Philadelphia by Poinsett's father and brothers. Jennie Smith was too poor to make the trip to Brooklyn. After 11 years, her husband Walter came home and offered a reconcilliation with Jennie. Jennie told him that he was welcome to come to the funeral but she wanted nothing else from Walter. She had raised the children without him and she would continue to do so. 

The caskets of Poinsett and Smith in state at Independence Hall. May 12, 1914

     The funeral was held on May 13, 1914. Their caskets were in state at Independence Hall from 8 am to 2pm. 500,000 people came to pay their respects. The bell tolled from the Hall Tower from 1:45 to 2:30. The caskets were brought from the Hall through an Honor Guard of Civil War veterans. The procession marched to Chopin's Funeral March up Market Street to Broad Street all the way to Berks Street. The streets were mobbed because schools and businesses closed for the occasion...but not a sound could be heard as the caissons rolled past. Smith's casket was then taken to his Mother's house at 2168 E. Sergeant Street. More than 1000 people were gathered to see Charles' home. The casket could not fit through the door so it had to go in via the front window. At this point Mrs Smith passed out and was placed under a doctor's care. 

The funeral procession filing past Civil War Vets May 13, 1914.

     From there, a Navy Honor Guard escorted Charles to Fernwood Cemetery (section G crypt 613). He was laid to rest at sunset as two sets of 3 volleys rang forth and the bugler sounded taps over his grave. On May 26, 1916 the Boy Scouts began a collection to raise funds for a statue of Smith to be placed in McPherson Square. In April of 1917, the Philadelphia Art Jury rejected the statue saying that it looked more like a cemetery marker than a heroic work of art. The defiant Kensingtonians told the Art Jury to go to hell and they dedicated the statue on August 4, 1917. During the ceremony, Smith's mother, Jennie, wailed uncontrolably and collapsed. 10,000 people came to see the dedication. Spanish American War Vets, along with Civil War Vets and Navy Veterans marched 5 miles through Kensington along with 8 marching bands playing martial music. Today the statue stands covered in grafitti.